BERLIN (AFP) - New Hamburg coach Huub Stevens failed to reinvigorate rock-bottom SV Hamburg as the struggling Bundesliga side surrendered a one goal lead to lose 2-1 at his former club Hertha Berlin.

Alexander Laas gave Stevens, who replaced the sacked Thomas Doll in midweek, the perfect start with a goal after 33 minutes.

But Hertha, who had seen Serbian striker Marko Pantelic miss a ninth-minute penalty, levelled when international defender Arne Friedrich scored in the 78th minute.

Brazilian striker Mineiro, who was brought in during the transfer window, then hit the winner with a thundering strike in the second minute of injury time.

The defeat left Hamburg firmly rooted to the foot of the table with just one win and 15 points to their name and facing the prospect of losing their top flight status after 43 years.

It was their seventh defeat of the season and left them four points from safety.

Hertha stay in fifth place, a point behind Bayern Munich who were beaten 3-0 by Nuremburg on Friday to hand returning coach Ottmar Hitzfeld the worst possible start to his second spell in charge of the Bavarian giants.

Eighth-placed Hanover, who beat Hertha 5-0 last week, were in the goals again on Saturday with a 4-1 trouncing of Alemannia Aachen.

Borussia Monchengladbach gave their new coach Jos Luhukay, who has replaced Jupp Heynckes, a winning start with a 2-0 success at Arminia Bielefeld for the club´s first win since October 14.

On Friday, Hitzfeld endured a nightmare return to the Bayern hotseat.

Having led Bayern to the German title in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003 as well as the 2001 Champions League crown, he replaced the sacked Felix Magath in midweek.

But he was left in no doubt about the task he faces as the result left the Munich side in fourth place in the table, eight points behind leaders Werder Bremen.

Even the return to the side of England midfielder Owen Hargreaves after four months out with a broken leg couldn´t save Bayern from defeat in this Munich derby.

Ivan Saenko gave Nuremburg the lead after 13 minutes before Roy Makaay wasted a golden opportunity to equalise in the 22nd minute when he fired straight at goalkeeper Raphael Schafer.

World Cup striker Lukas Podolski came on in the second half to give Bayern more bite but Nuremberg held out and were 2-0 ahead in 71st minute through Markus Schroth with Robert Vittek adding the third four minutes from time.

On Sunday, leaders Werder Bremen versus second placed Schalke 04.

Werder lead on goal difference from Schalke, who also have 42 points from 19 matches, with VfB Stuttgart, who travel to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, in third spot seven points off the pace.